Amidst the on-going Iginla melodrama, Nick Kypreos reported last night that Miikka Kiprusoff has told Flames management he won't report to any other team if he's traded at the deadline. Kipper's NTC ran out last summer, but with only one season remaining on his current deal (at $1.5 million in real dollars) Kiprusoff can now play the "I'll just retire if you force me to do anything " card.

Personally, I didn't think the time was right for dealing Kipper anyways. Although there's a non-trivial chance he might take his ball and go home in the summer anyways, the truth is his value has never been lower on the trade market. Kipper's numbers are league and career worst this year, he's almost 37 years old and probably the only residual value he has for a team going into the playoffs is his reputation as a great goalie.

To be clear, I don't think Kipper is *this bad* in reality, but recent results always count for a lot when you're trying to move somebody. The age thing is just an added layer of risk for a trade partner, to say nothing of another year with a $5.83M cap hit if he chooses to play.

Meaning the return for Kipper right now is likely to be nominal anyways. Pragmatically it would serve the team to try to leverage one of their key pieces from th last decade before he walks into the sunset, of course, but then the club should have tried shopping him a few years ago. For now, Kipper holds all the cards - the final year of his deal in trivial in real dollars relative to his career earnings and he's willing to stick a knife in his final season if circumstances don't suit him.

I'm not sure if I can blame Kiprusoff for this maneuver. On one hand, he's a pro athlete who is compensated millions of dollars and being traded is one of the risks of the job. On the other hand, his priorities at 37 years old have clearly shifted towards other things in life (read: family), so he's using what leverage he has left to ensure those priorities are served.

It's possible Kipper returns for his last year and then accepts a trade at the next deadline (or declines a trade for a second time), but if anyone pushed me, I'd bet on him retiring to Finland in the summer.

Flames Have No Heart!

This is a comment lament in Flamesland these days. Actually, if you tour around other team's messageboards, it's common with pretty much every losing team's fanbase.

Calgary has been legitimately bad recently, to be sure. Very good teams like Chicago and St. Louis have drastically outplayed them. Even Nashville and Phoenix have proven to be overbearing in the last few weeks. It's galling and frustrating and there's a chance the players have indeed accepted the inevitable in the dressing room and are simply playing out the string.

That said, I almost always reject this line of thinking: specifically that if the team cared more (or had more leadership, will to win, etc) they'd be meaningfully better. First, because we can't possibly know what the true motivations or passion level is of the players in the dressing room. Secondly, because this is a common psychological bias called the error of attribution, which causes people to assume failure in others is due to personal faults rather than situational or circumstantial issues. Thirdly, because if caring a lot predicted success, it would negate the importance of skill (which is clearly doesn't).

Finally, and perhaps most importantly in my view, psychologizing losses and and making it about some kind of character failure (be it acute or chronic) means you stop looking for answers. Let's put it another way: mistakes can be as vital as successes in that they contain information about how to do things right, assuming one can tease apart cause and effect. The problem with thinking that "the Flames could be better if they wanted to be" is that it stops the player and team evaluation process in its tracks. Calgary is good - would be good - if the players wanted to be.

Which is fine, I guess, if it's true and the roster has a congenital case of not giving a crap. I would argue, however, that the collected players just aren't good enough to contend in the league as assembled and that fans and management are better served trying to understand where things have gone wrong.

Other Stuff

- New sponsor WebSim Hockey offered us 12 free subscriptions for Nations Readers. When he revealed that on Monday, they promptly received almost 40 emails looking to claim them. Instead of turning people away, they simply handed out free subscriptions to everyone. Nice!

- Apparently former Flames head coach Mike Keenan was on TV today and said that Kipper and the team "had an understanding" that he would retire for the final season of his contract when it was signed way back when. Matt Fenwick noted this in response on twitter today:

If there was a mutual understanding between Flames & Kipper re: 13/14, that is clear cap circumvention. Tell us more, Coach Keenan.

Meaning, of course, the league could conceivably punish the organization if Kipper actually retires this off-season, assuming they believe Keenan and would be motivated to pursue the issue. Ugh.

- Finally, as noted in the FGD post from yesterday, FN will be at Tilted Kilt on Monday, April 1 to watch the Flames take on the Edmonton Oilers. Of course, if Iginla is still on the team at that point, it could be his final game in Flames colors.

So come out, maybe win a free jersey or a free beer, and hope Iginla can help Calgary beat Edmonton one last time.

Keenan's full of sh!t. Everyone can surmise that Kipper will retire just because of the circumstances - final year of his contract, already made all his money, numbers are down, getting injured. The writing's on the wall. Keenan's acting like smut reporter from the Enquirer and sensationalizing a story to further whatever motives are swimming around his little mind. Anywhoo - the NHL is still left with the burden of proof I would imagine.

As far as "heart" on the team - I believe there's a difference between wanting and trying to win a game, and putting EVERYTHING out there and not accepting defeat. Of course they want to win, and of course they try to win every game, but there's another level when you're truly invested. HOWEVER - I DO definitely question the 'heart' of anyone who repeatedly watches their goalie get run. That's code. You protect your goalie. Maybe those days are in the past.

If they punish the Flames, they have to punish EVERY other team that has one of those stupid back diving contracts. Regardless of what Keenan says it's still just speculation on his part because he's not Sutter of Kipper and didn't negotiate the deal.

Also with regards to Kipper refusing to be dealt, good for him, I appreciate all he's done for Calgary, but if this city and his family is more important to him than trying to win the cup in who knows what city, I have no problems with that. And for people going on about how it's bad on Kipper for not helping the Flames get prospects/picks, that's not Kippers job, he's the goalie, not the GM, he can't help it if we have bad GMs.

The biggest issue is that he Flames have allowed it to come to this. We are near last place, about to lose our two franchise players for very little, and get to deal with drama all season long (O'Reilly, Kipper, Iginla, Cap Circumvention, etc)

I don't like what Kipper is doing. It is clearly manipulation of the system to avoid being moved. He has earned millions from that contract. Time to honor the rest. Why ruin your legacy now?

Season has been a nightmare. Way to avoid becoming the Oiler's Feaster et all.

As we have all (mostly) said. The path to becoming the Oilers wasn't to rebuild. It was to wait until the bottom fell out.

Where there goes the bottom. And here comes a half decade or more of misery. Hooray us.

The only way this situation with Kipper makes any sense is if he plans on retiring in the summer..

I have my doubts though that he would turn down the chance at a Stanley Cup run with another team at this stage in his career.. If Kipper did say that, I would play Taylor for the rest of the year to get some experience and bench Kipper for the rest of the year..

The biggest issue is that he Flames have allowed it to come to this. We are near last place, about to lose our two franchise players for very little, and get to deal with drama all season long (O'Reilly, Kipper, Iginla, Cap Circumvention, etc)

I don't like what Kipper is doing. It is clearly manipulation of the system to avoid being moved. He has earned millions from that contract. Time to honor the rest. Why ruin your legacy now?

Season has been a nightmare. Way to avoid becoming the Oiler's Feaster et all.

As we have all (mostly) said. The path to becoming the Oilers wasn't to rebuild. It was to wait until the bottom fell out.

Where there goes the bottom. And here comes a half decade or more of misery. Hooray us.

So when teams buy out players, or when they moved to the minors or whatever why aren't teams HONOURING contracts, or is that only for players. Retirement is an option for him that is more than allowed, if he doesn't want to play somewhere else that is more than his choice. In fact I give him props for saying something so that there isn't an ugly mess after he is traded.

Only because he wasn't a UFA next year, he'll find a new home in the summer once teams know their cap situation, top cap teams don't want to add a piece they may not be able to move in the summer, bottom teir teams don't want to add salary right now.

I agree with backburner. If Kipper is done and going home in a month, where is the gain in playing him anymore? It is like giving 2 weeks notice. Once you have given notice, all you do is have coffee with everyone before you move on. Make sense to have him mentor Taylor (or prospects) while still here. But of course our GM won't do that. Kipper should have been moved 3 years ago or at last years deadline at the very least. Brutal management. Absolutely unacceptable. Going nowhere until the root of the problem is fixed. Iggy trade better be good, or the paying fan base will attempt to siege the castle.

re: Heart - Flames are a terrible team and have been for decades. That said, I still attribute a lot of their inconsistency to a lack of desire and leadership.

There's a difference between blaming everything on 'something' after the fact because it's convenient and denying human emotions and work ethic altogether.

The Flames didn't go on their Cup run in 2004 because of talent, or circumstances, or even luck alone. They also had a ton of drive that year that overcame or contributed to those things.

And last night, well, that was just a disgrace. Completely outclassed or not, no one can watch that game and objectively state that the team gave it their all, but just happened to suck (that would be the YG era). Faced with a franchise failure record and they mailed it in.

I agree with backburner. If Kipper is done and going home in a month, where is the gain in playing him anymore? It is like giving 2 weeks notice. Once you have given notice, all you do is have coffee with everyone before you move on. Make sense to have him mentor Taylor (or prospects) while still here. But of course our GM won't do that. Kipper should have been moved 3 years ago or at last years deadline at the very least. Brutal management. Absolutely unacceptable. Going nowhere until the root of the problem is fixed. Iggy trade better be good, or the paying fan base will attempt to siege the castle.

Normally, a player doing what Kipper has done would drive me over the edge, not sure why I don't care in this case.

Maybe because of his contributions over the years, maybe because of those contributions the team can't/won't embarass him (bench) until he retires regardless, so why get upset?

I find it hard at this point to really blame this Flames team for not having the 'heart' to win games.

People are saying how eery it is just be in the stands at the Flames games these days. I can't imagine what it's like in that locker room. I don't know to what extent the players are informed with all the trade talks, but it is probably expected that Iggy, face of the franchise, is gone this time next week. Which is a clear message from management that this team of skilled veterans has completely failed in their eyes. In addition, every veteran in that locker room probably thinks there is a decent chance they are moved or at least asked to waive their NTC any day now.

I'm not saying its fun to watch a disinterested flames team get totally out classed, but I understand that there's a ton of unknown and emotion flying around that locker room and that makes it extremely tough to focus.

Another "check your facts" moment for Flames Management.Does anyone even talk to each other in the front office???

King to Feaster..."by the way,Jay,when we signed Kipper we knew he was not going to play his last year,so release a statement that Kipper is NOT on the trade block. That way no one will ever hear about it and the Franchise won't suffer ANOTHER PR blow"

First off, thank you Kent and the Nation for the Websim Subscription. I havent had a chance to poke around there yet, but it looks like great fun for us armchair GMs.

After last night's debacle, I have to agree the Flames are indeed the WORST team in the NHL. Personally, I have ZERO faith in the current management of this team. Many more years will pass before we approach anything close to respectability.

Feaster and Co could surprise me, but I doubt it. We are going to end up with a bag of pucks at the deadline and no future. I just know it.

We need to FIRE KEN KING immediately. All the others should jump in his suitcase on the way out. I firmly believe I could do a much better job. That is not stroking my own ego, but a very sad statement about those who are running this show!

re: Heart - Flames are a terrible team and have been for decades. That said, I still attribute a lot of their inconsistency to a lack of desire and leadership.

There's a difference between blaming everything on 'something' after the fact because it's convenient and denying human emotions and work ethic altogether.

The Flames didn't go on their Cup run in 2004 because of talent, or circumstances, or even luck alone. They also had a ton of drive that year that overcame or contributed to those things.

And last night, well, that was just a disgrace. Completely outclassed or not, no one can watch that game and objectively state that the team gave it their all, but just happened to suck (that would be the YG era). Faced with a franchise failure record and they mailed it in.

They've been bad for about 2 years, mediocre for the preceding couple of years, and good for about five years prior to that. They haven't been "terrible... for decades."

People can rabble all they want about not making it out of the first round, but it's been circumstance more than the team being bad. Either Kipper has sunk the team in a given year, or injuries have (and I mean a LOT of injuries at a bad time).

Can't blame Kipper at this point. He gave the Flames a ridiculous amount of starts and stole quite a few games. He's 37, got a new kid, maybe some health issues with the family, so I'm fine that he gave himself the no trade. Deserves it.

MOST people who put family first would have no choice but to accept a transfer. Pro atheletes are paid ridiculously, and part of that is because the have to face being traded. - Now to completely contradict myself here, I'm not PO'ed at Kipper at all for some strange reason. Probably because I figure his career is going to finish in a few weeks anyway. Leave him be.

MOST people who put family first would have no choice but to accept a transfer. Pro atheletes are paid ridiculously, and part of that is because the have to face being traded. - Now to completely contradict myself here, I'm not PO'ed at Kipper at all for some strange reason. Probably because I figure his career is going to finish in a few weeks anyway. Leave him be.

After listening to the Fan this morning I have to agree with Morganti. It's part of what you're paid ridiculous amounts of money to do. And part of being a pro. It does screw the team over. Who knows what that draft pick could turn into, for example.

And yet, same as you, I'm just not that mad about it. Should be, but I'm not. Apathy.

I am ticked that kipper has done what he's done if its true. Cry me a freakn river kipp! You have tens of millions of dollars because Darryl and the flames gave you a chance as a third stringer minor league goalie at the time. Yes you played out of your head for this team but a contract is a contract! Family or not, he can set his wife and kids up nicely somewhere regardless of where he's at with all his cash.Retire now then dude! Don't give this club ultimatums. Take your can back to Finland now and don't think your doing us any favors by waiting til summer!!' As for an iggy deal, you gotta believe there's a big package deal brewing. The only way jay gets what he's asking is compensating with some other player(s). Maybe Glennx or stempniak.

After listening to the Fan this morning I have to agree with Morganti. It's part of what you're paid ridiculous amounts of money to do. And part of being a pro. It does screw the team over. Who knows what that draft pick could turn into, for example.

And yet, same as you, I'm just not that mad about it. Should be, but I'm not. Apathy.

Why the hell should Kipper care what whatever he gets traded for get turned into? That's what the team should care about, but again the team is so incompetently run that it's relying on an aged goalie that they hoped to trade so they could get one extra shot in a later round to turn this franchise around.

The Flames should be thanking their lucky stars right now they have Kipper, if it wasn't for him the fans and media might actually be acknowledging the Flames terrible play and management decisions.

Also Kipper isn't being paid millions to be TRADED, he is being paid millions to play GOALIE, if he doesn't want to be traded he's more than allowed to give up being paid millions to retire. What you feel he owes the Flames is not relevant.

I had posted in the GDT last night that, from my perspective, Kiprusoff has earned the right to make this call for himself and his family. Any anger or resentment, while understandable, should be directed at management for mishandling him as an asset.

I had posted in the GDT last night that, from my perspective, Kiprusoff has earned the right to make this call for himself and his family. Any anger or resentment, while understandable, should be directed at management for mishandling him as an asset.

Agree with this as well, this isn't a Kyle Turris or other young gun holding out or anything, this is an NHL Vet with a family and as everyone assumes was going to retire very shortly, probably at the end of this year. If he wants to play the last 20 games of his career as a Flame he can do that, or the team can try and trade him and possibly force him to retire. The fact that the fan base has turned on him and demanded he accept any trade is shameful IMO.

These front loaded contract,s were used to circumvent the CBA and allow teams to spend more,and player,s to collect more.IMO any disdain for Kipper(i have none) should be shared with management for writing such a contract.Players don,t respect the tail end of these contract,s.

I can't believe the outrage that someone dare fault kipper for his ALLEGED refusal. If Iggy decided he had had enough and wanted to retire to watch his kids grow up rather than pack up and go to the Eastern conference, perhaps becoming one of those aging nomad vets, would you all show up with torches and pitchforks??? These are people with greater priorities than a game. Kudos for kipper IF he is doing this for family reasons.

Same with all the moaning about NTCs, you sign a guy, he has the right to stick around. It made me sick when Toronto fans turned on Sundin so fast. If Iggy requests a move, and the team has mutual interest, then good luck Iggy. If he feels pressured to leave against his wishes and refuses? Well then tough crap Flames fans.

Kipper is a special case. While he doesn't have a NTC, he is on the verge of retirement. I think we can all excuse him for balking at being sent somewhere else for 16 or 17 games while a new child and real life demand his presence here in Calgary as much as possible. If he really wanted to, he could retire now and save all of you the trouble of moaning about how awful he is. He has been one of the busiest goalies in the league for the last decade, and gave us all hope that our often terrible team appeared better than they actually were with his ridiculous performances.

Iggy and Kipper both are two of the best we have ever had. Spare me all of the acrimony and BS. This team is more than a Kipper trade away from respectability.

So let me get this straight. Kipper is basically worth nothing now (unless they do a BOS->NYI where the team just NEEDS to hit the floor, but that won't happen) AND the team has the potential to be penalized for his contract?

WTF is going on? No tampering with Erixon/NYR was ever investigated. The Flames LAWYER GM interpreted a CBA rule in his own team's favour (wrongly, I might add) and failed to get a player via offer sheets. Now Kipper is going to bail and the Flames get NOTHING.

At this point, it sounds like the Flames will get investigated. You know, because when you bring sh*t down on yourself, it truly pours.

Not sure how I feel about Kipper. True, he came in and brought us to the playoffs. True, he has covered up this team's inconsistencies for a long time. But did he ever pass the first round after that? Was it ALWAYS the fault of everyone but Kipper? He stole games, but not when we really needed them. He took $35 MILLION dollars to miss the playoffs 4 years in a row (as of this year). That's 4 years of his 6 year extension that we've missed the playoffs.

People, what we have here is called a 'cult of personality', where Iginla and Kipper are the leaders and we are the sheep. Let go. They've given service. If Kipper takes his ball, let him go. Doesn't mean you have to be his biggest fan when the team gets NOTHING for all the money we've paid him (no playoffs, no consolation prize).

I feel like some of the outrage isn't necessarily directed at Kipper, but simply the situation the team is in. I commented earlier that "this is lame", but I can't fault Miikka for his choice, but its unfortunate that it leaves the team in this position.

Another reason management has demonstrated they aren't on the ball here.

Oh, and Murray Edwards is not exactly the smart businessman everyone thinks he is. He's an oil baron who, like many others, made that money off the backs of other people. This hockey gig is the same thing.

He has billions already, what does it matter if the Flames only make $500M in a year instead of $700? Edwards and King will NEVER go. If they go, I truly think the team goes, because at that point no one gives a sh*t.

So let me get this straight. Kipper is basically worth nothing now (unless they do a BOS->NYI where the team just NEEDS to hit the floor, but that won't happen) AND the team has the potential to be penalized for his contract?

WTF is going on? No tampering with Erixon/NYR was ever investigated. The Flames LAWYER GM interpreted a CBA rule in his own team's favour (wrongly, I might add) and failed to get a player via offer sheets. Now Kipper is going to bail and the Flames get NOTHING.

At this point, it sounds like the Flames will get investigated. You know, because when you bring sh*t down on yourself, it truly pours.

Not sure how I feel about Kipper. True, he came in and brought us to the playoffs. True, he has covered up this team's inconsistencies for a long time. But did he ever pass the first round after that? Was it ALWAYS the fault of everyone but Kipper? He stole games, but not when we really needed them. He took $35 MILLION dollars to miss the playoffs 4 years in a row (as of this year). That's 4 years of his 6 year extension that we've missed the playoffs.

People, what we have here is called a 'cult of personality', where Iginla and Kipper are the leaders and we are the sheep. Let go. They've given service. If Kipper takes his ball, let him go. Doesn't mean you have to be his biggest fan when the team gets NOTHING for all the money we've paid him (no playoffs, no consolation prize).

Its true that there is blame to go around for Calgary's lack of success, Kipper included, but cup runs are few and far between for this team. Kipper, Iggy and the rest gave us one that was fantastic.

Personally, I grew up in the 90's and early 2000's era of terrible flames teams and LONG playoff absences. The 03-04 cup run and resurgence that followed rekindled my flagging interest in the team. I am grateful for that, and I think there is nothing wrong with loving those two guys and cutting them some slack.

The team also failed to provide Iggy with the Centre he needed. He never bolted on us, he has proven his loyalty.

Give me a break... it's part of the business.. and he would have to play what? two months of Hockey outside of Calgary? Cry me a friggin' River... I am Married with two small kids and I've had to go away to work last year for two months AND this year.. and I didn't get paid. It's rough but it can be done.. do it for your family.